Shakuhachi, Shingetsu 心月 played by Shiku Yano

Meet Shiku Yano at Shakuhachi Summer Festival from August 11 to 15 2022 in Karlstadt/Germany. Join us at www.shakuhachi.de!

Recorded at Kira, Aichi in the temple of Shiku Yano in November 2019
more information you can find at: www.shakuhachi.de

The calming effect of moonlight has spoken to poets and philosophers for years and is the inner feeling from which one plays this song. The form of an object is illuminated by the light and casts shadows which surround it. The space around the object shapes and defines it. One should focus on the space around the physical realm wherein lives the spirit of light. Freeing one's mind in the non-physical realm, like the light spirit, allows one to take on any form.

Shingetsu is characterized by the interspersing of a very light komibuki technique throughout the composition. This adds a bit of forward movement or momentum to the piece, but since the tempo is very slow as compared to Oaha or the Nezasa pieces and has no variation, it tends to create a safe and secure feeling.

The player knows what is coming next and at what speed. There are very long one-breath phrases which maintain a feeling of calmness throughout this song. The signature phrase found in the middle of the piece and again in the last line where the "Ho" note is repeated should be played in a reverent spirit. A longer shakuhachi is best for expressing the depth of feeling and mood of Shingetsu.